Nopes - its the pug engine. KFU (aka et3j something or other). 56plate (the first year) 16v dohc, variable inlet timing sprocket jobby. Couple of years later they were onto the bmw units...

put it all back together, started it up, ran rough - timing was off, Realised i had locked the crank in the wrong position, turns out there is a small inspection window just a little way around from the official locking hole on the block. stupid design. Re timed it all up and it started fine. Greeted a few moment later by the oil welling up just below the head/block interface

So a wasted weekend, and now a super clean engine bay / ancillaries, about to get covered in oil again not worth doing the HG, that'll be another weekend and at least 100quid for the parts (plus the bolts and any fluids/sundries). Trying not to persuade myself...

The old engine died from a HG oil leak, front left corner by timing belt at 127kmiles. got a new lower mileage engine, whilst it was out of the car had new headset and it was done properly.

friend at work, same car, 1 year newer, had HG replaced by a garage not so many years ago, already leaking badly in the same place.

even if i put a new HG on, took time to choose high quality gasket, and went for a precautionary skim, no assurance it wont leak within a year (wife does about 15k/year) so not worth doing. Shame really as the rest of the car is holding up better than the brand would suggest (all electrics/switchgear/trim/drivetrain/suspension, no rust at all).

Mrs Scott560 isn't a petrol head though, so the next addition is unlikely to be an interesting car - perhaps a 2012-2016 honda civic...

Replaced the oil cooler o ring on the type s which was a PITA until i realised i could use some thick grease to hold the new o ring in place, only then to realise after a bit of googling that there is another one behind the bracket that the oil cooler bolts to, fingers crossed that doesn't need doing as well...

Been busy this week - todays tasks, removing the left "Honda" boot badge and the right "2.2 VTI" badge, took a bit of elbow grease once the badges were off, 19 years of dirt and glue residue left behind